A review by mrtvavrana
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have been hearing about this book almost constantly since it was released. I was quite skeptical about it; I'm not going to lie. The premise and all the positive reviews seemed to be a bit too good. I have to say, though, I was pleasantly surprised. Hell Followed With Us indeed lived up to my expectations. 

My favourite thing about this book was how clearly it was written by a queer person for other queer people. It all felt so natural, and some of the experiences the main character had to deal with were very relatable. 

I have also loved the portrayal of religion and religious trauma. As someone who used to be a part of the church and still deals with religious guilt and trauma, I could not get enough of this book. I have never before felt so seen and understood. I don't think I have ever read another book I could relate to this much. 

I am an avid horror fan and have been for years. I do not quite like zombies, but I enjoyed how White played with the trope and turned it into something fun—they were not just mindless shells; there was so much more to them. 

The world-building and descriptions were beautiful and captivating, and they really helped me get sucked into the story. 

I connected to the characters almost immediately, although I hoped we would see more of the side characters and learn more about their lives. 

While I absolutely loved the story and the overall pace and mood, I think there were some instances that seemed to drag and go on forever,

like the main character's transformation. It took place over the bigger part of the story, and yet somehow it was easily concealed and remained hidden from almost everyone for a very long time.

I am also a tiny bit conflicted about the ending. I think that after all that build-up, it was a bit underwhelming. I kind of expected the book to end with a boom.